 Photo by Ksenia Chernaya @ pexels.com Throughout my teaching career, I've had the pleasure of meeting and teaching many sweet, little kids. However, one particular little guy stood out as one of the sweetest kids I have ever met. He was always thanking me for everything, so polite, always wishing me a wonderful weekend, and was such a dedicated learner. What really stood out to me was how he treated his female cousin, who was also a student at our school. Day after day, he would meet her at the bell and carry not only his backpack but hers as well. This was no easy task, as he would wear his backpack on his back and hers on the front, every single day. He was always looking out for her and was so kind. It was very noticeable on a daily basis just how exceptional this kid was. I recall telling him one day how proud I was of him and how I had noticed his extreme kindness to everyone, especially his cousin. He beamed with pride until I made the mistake of saying, "You will make a great husband one day." As he was in grade 2, he quickly replied, "Now why would you ever say that? I NEVER want to be a husband, like ever!" I then said, "Oh, I think you will change your mind about that in the future." He responded, "No way, I will never change my mind because I never want to be anyone's husband!" I then said, "Ok, no problem. Well, you sure will make a good friend one day!" He smiled again and said, "Thank you so much. I agree!"  Photo by Little Lessons Learned by Dana This got me thinking about how sometimes others see things in us that we aren't ready to receive or just don't want to hear. In high school, I was told that I would make a great teacher. My co-op teacher even set up an opportunity for me to visit a local kindergarten classroom to experience a day in the life of an elementary teacher. It was a positive experience, yet I flat out told him, "Thanks, but no thanks. Teaching is not for me." Many others suggested teaching to me, and it was a very slow process for me to actually warm up to the idea. Now, 20 years in, I can't imagine doing any other career. Timing is truly everything in life and thank goodness I saw things differently in time. God sees us with unlimited potential right from the get-go. He sees us as unique and dearly loved. We are all "fearfully and wonderfully made" the Bible says. He had a purpose, and created us to fulfill it. He has such BIG plans for all of us, yet we can so easily limit ourselves by being close-minded, stubborn, or just plain scared to take risks. My desire now is to be really open to new possibilities and to seek God's direction for my life like never before. New paths and stepping out of comfort zones can be scary, yet so rewarding as well. It is true what they say: "Never say never." Some of the things that you flat out refuse to even consider, just like in my case with my career, may end up being not only a huge blessing but one of the best decisions you will ever make. Call to Action:
Drop a comment below about an area of your life that you might be willing to try something new in.  Until next time, Dana P.S. Never say never! Some very cool experiences could be waiting for you just around the corner. P.S.S. Also, don't tell my sweet student, but I still stand by what I said, and he most definitely will make a wonderful husband one day! I said what I said! Please follow me on Facebook at Little Lessons Learned by Dana here. Tags: teaching, careers, taking risk, stepping out of comfort zones, open-minded, new things, growth mindset, elementary teacherCopyright: © 2025 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
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 Photo by HT Photography: Little Lessons Learned by Dana "You're only as old as you feel." ~ Paul Simon I recently celebrated my 55th birthday. When I say celebrated, I truly mean it because I feel sincerely comfortable in my own skin, and I am in a very good place right now. I feel fabulous! I haven't always felt this way, but since January of this year, I've been committed to improving my health in a holistic manner. The desire was always there, but recent health challenges have truly lit a fire under me. My motivation has hit an all-time high. (Who is this person? I know, right?) Let me explain... Several months ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I knew something was wrong because night after night, I would wake myself (and others) up with my constant snoring. Every morning, I was left completely exhausted. After my sleep study, I wasn't surprised by the diagnosis, but I was shocked by the severity of my case. A severe case of sleep apnea is described as "30 or more breathing interruptions." I didn't have 30 interruptions, or even 50, but 117 breathing interruptions an hour! I was like: "Wait, what?" The technician said it was one of the most severe cases he had ever seen. Upon receiving this information, three thoughts popped into my head:
Throw in high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and now we're really having some good times.  Photo by Pixabay Part of my new routine has been completely stepping up my diet and exercise program. Protein and whole foods are a priority each day on my menu. I also now go to the gym faithfully and attend a fitness class twice weekly with my son, Tyler, called Building Better Bodies. In this class, we lift weights, do step work, and complete TRX strap exercises. Together with Tyler by my side and a great trainer (Thank you, Scott!), I am doing things I seriously thought I could NEVER do. Not only am I doing it, but I am LOVING it! Mindset is EVERYTHING. If you tell yourself that something is beyond you, it will be. If you tell yourself you will fail, you will. If you tell yourself that change is possible for everyone but you, then it will be. In my case, I always told myself that these classes were way too advanced for me and I was doomed to fail if I even tried. But then one day, I had a NEW thought. I dared to think that maybe, just maybe, if I could muster the courage to actually try an advanced workout class, I might just be successful! This change in thought process made all the difference.  Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com Why is it that we are so often our own worst enemy? Why can't we all just be our own best friend? Believing in yourself is truly the first key to success. We often sabotage our progress by having limiting beliefs. These beliefs keep us stuck, impeding us from the rich and healthy life that God intended us to have. Why do I share this information with you? To brag? Absolutely not. I truly hope you do not see it that way. I am not special. I am just a simple person who is taking small steps to change her life for the better. If I can do it, anyone can. My hope is to provide you with encouragement. We only get one go-around in life, and I want my journey to be the best it can be. I encourage you to have the courage to step out in faith in the areas that you need to change. I believe in you and know you are capable of making changes that can transform your life in ways you never imagined. You can do hard things, and I am here to be your cheerleader if you need me. Call to Action
Take care, my friend. I must be going as I have a healthy lunch to pack and a few more steps to get in. Until next time, Dana Philippians 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Please follow me on Facebook at Little Lessons Learned by Dana here. Tags: healthy lifestyle, healthy eating, exercise, goal setting, motivation, growth mindset, small steps, limiting beliefs, believe in yourself, lifestyle changeCopyright: © 2025 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
"You never go wrong by being kind." ~ Marilyn Lear The world is facing immense challenges these days. Every time we turn on the TV, scroll through social media, or open a newspaper, we are confronted with sadness, turmoil, and mistreatment of others, glaring at us like neon signs. It makes me ponder: where did we go wrong? Why do people feel it is acceptable to act in such inappropriate and heartbreaking ways towards each other? Now, more than ever, people need kindness. It is true that when it comes to kindness, a little really goes a long way.  Photo by Little Lessons Learned by Dana Be a bucket fillerA big part of my job as an elementary teacher is teaching social skills, and focusing on modeling kindness and treating others with respect is always a priority in my classroom. This week, I enjoyed reading to my class, two delightful books about "bucket filling" by Carol McCloud. In these popular, award-winning children's books, it speaks of how everyone carries an invisible bucket. This invisible bucket is just waiting to be filled with acts of kindness and thoughtful gestures that fill not only a bucket but a person's love tanks. The books highlight simple, everyday things you can do to literally make someone's day. It is not rocket science; one small act of kindness can truly make a huge difference. Feeling inspired by these books, a sweet student made me a bucket for my desk and took the initiative to fill it with paper clippings. When I asked what the clippings represented, she quickly replied, "LOVE." This was very special, and not only was my craft bucket full, but my invisible one certainly was as well. Don't be a bucket dipperJust as easily as we can fill someone's bucket, we can empty it by what is called "bucket dipping" in these books. Bucket dipping includes the little or big things we do to bring someone down—hurtful comments, rude actions, a critical spirit, excluding others, gossiping, and ignoring someone's cry for help are all examples of bucket dipping. The world already has enough bucket dippers. We certainly do not need to join that team. Trust me, it is already very overcrowded. As a Christ follower, when interacting with others, I often ask myself, "What would Jesus do if He were me right now?" I don't always get it right, but I strive to emulate Him more and more each day. Jesus is and always will be the ultimate bucket filler. He fills my heart with so much joy. He provides me with everything I need, has washed away my sins, and is as close as the mention of His name. In addition to this, I am honored that the God of the universe cares so deeply about me that He delights in providing me with blessing after blessing, daily filling my bucket to overflowing even when I don't deserve it. Every time I read the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, I ask myself, have I? It should be our goal to fill at least one bucket a day, minimum. I know it is mine. So, honoring this commitment, I say to you, my internet family, I have such a grateful heart for you for following my blog and taking the time to read what I have to say. Without you, this blog would just be words on a page that no one read but me. Every time you read, comment, and share my writing, my bucket literally overflows. The fact that you have embraced me and Little Lessons Learned by Dana means more than words can say. So, what I am trying to say is a huge thank you for being a bucket filler for me. You are such a wonderful blessing to me! God bless everyone! Call to Action: Reflect upon the concept of bucket filling this week. Do a personal inventory and ask yourself, have I been filling buckets or dipping into them? If you honestly feel that the dipping activity has been more frequent, you are not alone. It happens to us all from time to time. Make a commitment to be more cognizant of how your words and actions affect others in both positive and negative ways and make bucket filling a priority this week. You won't regret it. As my mom said, "You never go wrong by being kind!" Until next time, Dana Please follow me on Facebook at Little Lessons Learned by Dana here. Tags: bucket filling, bucket dipping, Have You Filled a Bucket Today, encourage one another, cheerleaders, Jesus the ultimate bucket filler, kindess, social emotional learningCopyright: © 2025 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
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